Flowers are the main commodity handled at Quito’s Mariscal Sucre International Airport. 92% of all exports consist of roses, carnations or chrysanthemums. The flower business has catapulted Ecuador to the top of the world’s largest producers and traders in the floristry sector, ranked 3rd after Columbia and the Netherlands. The growing global demand, surpassing meanwhile a volume of USD 1 billion annually, has prompted freight carriers such as LATAM Cargo, Avianca, Emirates or DHL to up their capacity or newcomers to commence serving Quito Airport.
The flower boom is not without consequences. Quito is now the fifth largest airport in Latin America in terms of freight throughput, after Bogota, Colombia, Benito Juarez in Mexico City, Guarulhos, Brazil, and Santiago de Chile. According to the International Council of Airports of Latin America and the Caribbean (ACI-LAC), in 2023, the volumes handled at Quito increased 14,12%. It is the highest growth rate of all airports south of the Rio Grande bordering the USA and Mexico. In total, 335,407 tons of cargo were moved, surpassing the 293,904 tons reached in 2022. With this achievement, Mariscal Sucre left behind well-known airports in the Latam hemisphere, such as Lima’s Jorge Chávez International, Ezeiza International in Buenos Aires, or Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro Galeao International.
Superb ground infrastructure
Quito Airport is one of the few in the region offering the industry a range of dedicated services provided by a Cargo Logistics Center located within its fenced grounds. Operator of the facility is 2013 founded Tababela Cargo Center that processes the vast majority of shipments coming from the agro-industry, supported by modern technology. This is complemented by a cargo terminal encompassing 13,000 square meters, operated by four different service providers. This secures the simultaneous handling of up to six freighter aircraft and enables customers to choose their partners.
In 2023, a facility of 2,880 square meters was added to the export cargo terminal, and the space for truck operations in front of the complex was enlarged as well. These improvements have boosted operational efficiency, optimized processes and facilitated the sustained growth of the airport, states operator Corporación Quiport. Currently, 15 cargo airlines serve the Ecuadorian airport.
Key cargo player
Ramón Miró, president and CEO of Corporación Quiport, commented: “The great performance of air cargo reflects the commitment and continuous effort of all the actors involved in the airport’s cargo logistics chain, who have achieved high levels of efficiency in the operation. Quiport management has been making a permanent effort to improve our facilities and services, as well as to bring more cargo airlines to our airport.” The executive went on to say: “We are proud to see how Mariscal Sucre Airport is consolidating itself as a key player in air cargo transportation in the region, contributing to the country’s economic development and Ecuador’s connection to the world.”
Based on the figures from January to July, management expects a further jump in volumes in 2024, surpassing 360,000 tons.
Beautiful flowers, ugly results
However, the fast growth of the flower business is not without consequences for nature. Environmental associations point out that flowers are produced in greenhouses with a high use of pesticides and artificial fertilizers. This has devastating effects on the environment: the soil is depleted of nutrients, water is contaminated by pesticides and the indigenous population is displaced from their land, which is appropriated by the agro-industry. On Valentine’s Day, when new turnover records are reported time and again, this dark side of floriculture in Ecuador and Latin America as a whole is not an issue.
